When Sin Catches Up With You

Today's Verse

Genesis 42:21 (NLT)
Speaking among themselves, they said, “Clearly we are being punished because of what we did to Joseph long ago. We saw his anguish when he pleaded for his life, but we wouldn’t listen. That’s why we’re in this trouble.”

Read Genesis 42

Thoughts

It is just a fact of life. Our sin always requires pay back time. Anything we do, from simple disobedience from our parents, telling lies, hurting someone, infidelity, to homicide or murder – it always comes back to charge for the penalty. It is not a question of if, but when. In our text today, we see that it was pay back time for the brothers of Joseph to face the consequence of their sin against Joseph. However, we see here a very important principle of the Scriptures – the mercy of God reflected in the Old Testament.

The ten brothers of Joseph could have been summarily executed when they came from Canaan to Egypt to buy food during the worldwide famine, for Joseph have all the power in his hands to do as he wishes. Yet, Joseph was overwhelmed with compassion and love for his brothers, that he had to cry out secretly. While his brothers were trembling in fear, Joseph was weeping down in compassion.

Joseph reflects the compassion and love of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus feels the same way for us sinners – we deserve punishment and death because we offended the Creator of the heavens and the earth. We all sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23), and we deserve nothing but death (Rom. 6:23). But like Joseph, Jesus broke down and wept because of our foolishness, He had compassion and love for us, that He was willing to die on the cross just to rescue us from the penalty of our sin, which is eternal damnation in the lake of fire. It was reserved for the Devil and his demons, but many people choose to go there too.

Sooner or later, your sin will catch up with you. But right now, Jesus is offering you His forgiveness and salvation. There is one of two things you can do: acknowledge that you are a helpless offender and sinner, just like Joseph’s brothers who are at the mercy of Joseph’s hand, and receive forgiveness and salvation from the Lord Jesus Christ – OR – remain proud and seemingly can work things out by yourself, but then the end is death and damnation (Prov. 14:12).

Prayer

Lord God Heavenly Father, we humbly bow down and acknowledge that we are all sinners, and nothing we can do to save ourselves. Have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may find mercy and salvation in the blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.